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J Med Cases 2020 Aug 21;11(8):243-245. Epub 2020 Jul 21.

Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

Cardiac arrhythmias have been reported in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. To date various tachyarrhythmias have been noted. This case report describes an atypical clinical hospitalization course of high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block in the setting of COVID-19 infection which required no intervention. Read More

Front Physiol 2021 26;12:642083. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Department of Medical Physiology, Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Introduction: Torsade de pointes arrhythmias (TdP) in the chronic atrioventricular block (CAVB) dog model result from proarrhythmic factors, which trigger TdP and/or reinforce the arrhythmic substrate. This study investigated electrophysiological and arrhythmogenic consequences of severe bradycardia for TdP.

Methods: Dofetilide (25 μg/kg per 5 min) was administered to eight anesthetized, idioventricular rhythm (IVR) remodeled CAVB dogs in two serial experiments: once under 60 beats per minute (bpm), right ventricular apex paced (RVA60) conditions, once under more bradycardic IVR conditions. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 12;14(5). Epub 2021 May 12.

Internal Medicine, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Visine eye drops are a commonly used topical drug for irritation of the eye. The active component in Visine eye drops is tetrahydrozoline. Tetrahydrozoline is an imidazoline derivative found in several ophthalmic and nasal decongestants. Read More

Acta Cir Bras 2021 7;36(3):e360306. Epub 2021 May 7.

Associate Professor. Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Department of Pharmacology - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

Purpose: To evaluate the preventive cardioprotective effects of resveratrol and grape products, such as grape juice and red wine, in animal model of cardiac ischemia and reperfusion.

Methods: Male Wistar rats orally pretreated for 21-days with resveratrol and grape products were anesthetized and placed on mechanical ventilation to surgically induce cardiac ischemia and reperfusion by obstruction (ischemia) followed by liberation (reperfusion) of blood circulation in left descending coronary artery. These rats were submitted to the electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis to evaluate the effects of pretreatment with resveratrol and grape products on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (VA), atrioventricular block (AVB) and lethality (LET) resulting from cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2021 May 12:e020767. Epub 2021 May 12.

Cardiological Center University of Ferrara Italy.

Background The 12-lead ECG plays a key role in the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome (BrS). Since the spontaneous type 1 ECG pattern was first described, several other ECG signs have been linked to arrhythmic risk, but results are conflicting. Methods and Results We performed a systematic review to clarify the associations of these specific ECG signs with the risk of syncope, sudden death, or equivalents in patients with BrS. Read More

Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care 2021 May;10(3):329-334

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, USA.

Background: Infectious endocarditis is often complicated by conduction abnormalities at the time of presentation. Cardiac surgery is the treatment of choice for many infectious endocarditis patients, but carries an additional risk of persistent postoperative conduction abnormality. We sought to define the incidence and clinical predictors of significant postoperative conduction abnormalities necessitating permanent pacemaker implantation after cardiac surgery for infectious endocarditis. Read More

Clin Cardiol 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Cardiology, Intervention Cardiology Center, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, No.215 Zhongshan Avenue, QiaoKou District, Wuhan, China.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has reached a pandemic level. Cardiac injury is not uncommon among COVID-19 patients. We sought to describe the electrocardiographic characteristics and to identify the prognostic significance of electrocardiography (ECG) findings of patients with COVID-19. Read More

Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J 2021 May 7. Epub 2021 May 7.

Department of Cardiology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India. Electronic address:

The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) of a 79-year-old male patient with recurrent pre-syncope showed irregular sinus rhythm with constant PR interval and left bundle branch block (LBBB) with intermittently blocked P waves. The beat following the blocked P wave had a narrower QRS with shorter PR interval. The phenomenon of bilateral bundle branch block explains sudden improvement in the atrioventricular conduction. Read More

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2021 Apr;46(4):379-384

Department of Cardiology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.

Objectives: To compare the left ventricular systolic function between the 1eft bundle branch pacing (LBBP) and right ventricular septum pacing (RVSP) in patients with pacemaker dependence by three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI).

Methods: A total of 65 patients with atrioventricular block (AVB) (Mobitz type II second-degree AVB, high-degree AVB, or third-degree AVB), who underwent permanent cardiac pacing implantation including 32 patients receiving LBBP (LBBP group) and 33 patients receiving RVSP (RVSP group) from June 2018 to June 2019,were enrolled in this study. These patients met the following inclusion criterion: pre-operative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)>50% and ventricular pacing rate>40% at 6-month programming follow-up; and the patients underwent echocardiography at pre-operation and 6 months after operation. Read More

Cardiol Young 2021 May 10:1-3. Epub 2021 May 10.

The Heart Institute, Division of Cardiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

We describe an adolescent with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis and symptomatic high-grade, second-degree atrioventricular block requiring permanent pacemaker placement. It is difficult to ascertain if these two diagnoses were independent or had a causal relationship though ongoing symptoms were not present prior to the infection. Because of this uncertainty, awareness that rhythm disturbances can be cardiac in origin but also secondary to other aetiologies, such as infection, is warranted. Read More

Drug Saf 2021 May 9. Epub 2021 May 9.

Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK.

Introduction: Knowledge on the safety of medication use during pregnancy is often sparse. Pregnant women are generally excluded from clinical trials, and there is a dependence on post-marketing surveillance to identify teratogenic medications.

Aims: This study aimed to identify signals of potentially teratogenic medications using EUROmediCAT registry data on medication exposure in pregnancies with a congenital anomaly, and to investigate the use of VigiBase reports of adverse events of medications in the evaluation of these signals. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

University of Rochester.

Background: SyncAV™, a device-based cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) algorithm, promotes electrical optimization by dynamically adjusting atrioventricular intervals.

Objective: Evaluate impact of SyncAV™ on heart failure hospitalizations (HFH) and related costs in a real-world CRT cohort.

Methods: Subjects with SyncAV™-capable CRT devices followed by remote monitoring and enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service (M-FFS) for at least 1 year before and up to 2 years post-implant were studied. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2021 May 7. Epub 2021 May 7.

Division of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd, MS #34, Los Angeles, CA, 90049, USA.

Our institution established a Fontan surveillance plan, which included ambulatory rhythm monitoring (ARM) at 6, 10, 13, 16 and 19 years old, for early detection of Fontan-associated complications. We conducted a retrospective chart review of Fontan patients followed at our institution 2014-2018 to determine the utility of surveillance ARMs. 139 ARMs from 83 patients were included. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2021 May 7:e020033. Epub 2021 May 7.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester MN.

Background The temporal incidence of high-grade atrioventricular block (HAVB) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is uncertain. As a result, periprocedural monitoring and pacing strategies remain controversial. This study aimed to describe the temporal incidence of initial episode of HAVB stratified by pre- and post-TAVR conduction and identify predictors of delayed events. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2021 17;2021:9247541. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.

Atrioventricular block (AVB) is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death, and most of AVB cases are presented as autosomal dominant. The electrocardiogram of AVB patients presents an abnormal progressive cardiac conduction disorder between atria and ventricles. () is a nonselective Ca-activated cation channel gene defined as a novel disease-causing gene of AVB. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Interv 2021 May;14(9):981-991

Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the 2019 consensus algorithm in a large cohort of contemporary transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients.

Background: The optimal management of patients with atrioventricular conduction disturbances after TAVR is unknown. Guidance was consolidated in an expert consensus algorithm in 2019. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2021 May 3. Epub 2021 May 3.

Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Division of Cardiology, University of California San Francisco, CA. Electronic address:

Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

The Heart Center and University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenia.

We report the case of a pregnant woman with complete heart block during her first trimester who presented with dyspnea at the East African Heart Rhythm Project in Nairobi. There was no evidence of an acute cause (e.g. Read More

Pediatrics 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Pediatrics, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii; and.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an acute inflammatory process resulting in rheumatic carditis, one of the most common acquired heart diseases in youth. Among the clinical manifestations of carditis, pathologic valve regurgitation and atrioventricular block are included in the criteria for the diagnosis of ARF. Besides atrioventricular block, ARF may often present with other arrhythmias, such as junctional tachycardia (JT). Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2021 Apr 2;35:121-123. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Department Small Animal Clinical Science, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA.

A 3-year-old female spayed indoor/outdoor Siamese cat was diagnosed with cytauxzoonosis and irregular heart rhythm was appreciated during a physical examination. On electrocardiogram, the cat had an average ventricular rate of 144 beats/min with Wenckebach type (Mobitz type I) atrioventricular block. The QRS complexes of sinus conducted beats had left anterior fascicular block morphology, they were followed by two subsequent beats presented with a prolonged P-R interval and QRS conducted with a left bundle branch block. Read More

PLoS One 2021 3;16(5):e0251124. Epub 2021 May 3.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan.

Background: High-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB) is a prognostic factor for survival in patients with inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, there is little information about factors associated with temporary pacing (TP). The aim of this study was to find factors associated with TP in patients with inferior STEMI. Read More

JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital "Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi," Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy; Department of Clinical, Special and Dental Sciences, University Hospital "Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi," Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes of minimally fluoroscopic approach (MFA) compared with conventional fluoroscopic ablation (ConvA) in terms of recurrences of arrhythmia and long-term complications.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with an MFA, under the guidance of electroanatomic mapping (EAM) systems, results in a significant reduction in exposure to ionizing radiations without impairing acute procedural success and complication rate. However, data regarding long-term outcomes of MFA compared with ConvA are lacking. Read More

Cureus 2021 Mar 24;13(3):e14091. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Department of Cardiology, Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dayton, USA.

Regadenoson myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is a widely used screening study for patients with an intermediate pretest probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). Via selective agonism of the adenosine A2A receptor, regadenoson can induce coronary steal, revealing stenotic vessel territory through transient ischemia. Common side effects of this medication include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, atrioventricular block, seizure, and allergic reactions. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2021 Apr 1;57(4). Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, Guro Hospital, Gurodong Road 148, Guro-Gu, Seoul 08308, Korea.

New developments in spinal cord stimulation (SCS) have improved the treatment of patients with chronic pain. Although the overall safety of modern SCS has been established, there are no published reports regarding safety considerations when implanting a burst-mode spinal cord stimulator in patients with permanent cardiac pacemakers (PCPs). An 80-year-old man with a complete atrioventricular block implanted with a PCP was considered as a candidate for burst-mode SCS due to well-established postherpetic neuralgia (>180 days after rash). Read More

J Exp Biol 2021 Apr 16;224(8). Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 80101 Joensuu, Finland.

Heat tolerance of heart rate in fish is suggested to be limited by impaired electrical excitation of the ventricle due to the antagonistic effects of high temperature on Na+ (INa) and K+ (IK1) ion currents (INa is depressed at high temperatures while IK1 is resistant to them). To examine the role of Na+ channel proteins in heat tolerance of INa, we compared temperature dependencies of zebrafish (Danio rerio, warm-dwelling subtropical species) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, cold-active temperate species) ventricular INa, and INa generated by the cloned zebrafish and rainbow trout NaV1.4 and NaV1. Read More

Medicina (B Aires) 2021 ;81(2):154-158

Ministerio de Salud, San Salvador, El Salvador.

Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America and remains a regional problem despite improvements in environmental health conditions that have helped to control its transmission. To know more about its prevalence in heart disease patients, we carried out a survey in our national (El Salvador) reference hospital. We reviewed the Chagas Lab's records 2013-2015 to find out how many of the patients admitted to the Hospital's Heart Unit were serologically positives for Trypanosoma cruzi infection and which the associated diagnoses were. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2021 Apr 24. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: This study investigated the incidences of various conduction abnormalities after rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement(RDAVR) using Edwards Intuity and the temporal changes of these abnormalities during the postoperative course.

Description: We modified the procedure by placing additional anchoring sutures and using a 5-mm videoscope to achieve 'complete annulus fitting'. Direct visual inspection by videoscopy inside and outside the valve guaranteed 'complete annulus fitting'. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Associate Professor of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

We describe the first case report of fulminant myocarditis and complete heart block which was initially presented by severe systolic dysfunction and tachyarrhythmia, in a patient who recently recovered from covid-19. Continuous close follow-up should be considered for patients infected with COVID-19 after discharge, especially for those with any metabolic and pharmacologic risk factors for the conductive block to recognize these rare complications and reverse CHB early by administering a high dose of corticosteroid or other anti-inflammatory medications. Read More

Intern Med 2021 Apr 26. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Division of Cardiology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.

An 82-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea and bradycardia during exertion. Electrocardiography revealed complete atrioventricular block. During pacemaker implantation, a small dose (12. Read More

Kardiol Pol 2021 04 23;79(4):485-486. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland